All posts by Daytona

Overkill… But with RGB! (A review on the ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 2080)

NT IT Reviews, Video Card Reviews
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When deciding to buy a graphics card one of the most important questions to ask yourself is, “what am I using it for”. If your answer is as simple as chrome browsing and productivity work then most integrated graphics chips will do you just fine. If you find integrated graphics just is not cutting it for you then even a low end card should work just fine. But for the other people out their in the world with an unlimited money source and love for gaming, the great people at ASUS make cards just for you and others alike. Which also happens to come with RGB… Because who doesn’t like colorful lights?

The ASUS ROG STRIX RTX 2080 is everything you need in a GPU and more. Alot more. If you are in need of a “no compromise” video card then you have came to the right place. With the newer generation of Nvidia cards that include top of the line ray tracing technology (which I will not get into today but if you would like to read up on it then click the following link https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/266600-nvidias-rtx-promises-real-time-ray-tracing) the 2080 will most likely suit all of your needs and more without any hesitation or need to overclock.

Not only does it support the latest API’s such as OpenGL 4.5 and DirectX 12 it also has the newest form of video memory in GDDR6. And if you really wanted to, it does support NVlink (SLI) so that you can hook two of these up at the same time. Your mileage may vary on the software support though. Moving forward it does have a whopping 8GB of GDDR6. The 256-bit memory bus is big enough to push all of it through plus some. But memory and API support is just one part of the equation. And on the other side of the equation, it surely does not disappoint. Here is a list of the other important specifications:

  • Core clock: 1515 MHz
  • OC Mode: 1890 MHz 
  • Gaming Mode: 1860 MHz
  • Cuda Cores: 2944
  • Memory Clock: 14000 MHz
  • Ports include: 2x HDMI 2.0B / 2x Display Port 1.4 / 1x USB Type-C 
  • 3x fans (pictured above)
  • 2x 8 pin power connectors
  • Supports SLI
  • Supports up to 8K in resolution
  • Takes up 2.7 slots

Overall if you really need the whole entirety of raw power this gives out then go for it. Did I mention this runs over $800 (Around $870)? Yeah, so really this is a perfect card for future proofing especially due to the fact that game support and other program support for ray tracing technology is not mainstream yet. Lackluster support for the new technology is due to the fact of it being new to consumers. Ray tracing itself has been around for awhile now and is the technology used in most Pixar films. But surely as it comes around in most triple-A titles you can ensure you will be future proofed for years to come and can play any triple-A title today at 4k, 90 MHz or even better. In conclusion, as long as you have the money and monitor/PC to go along with it then I definitely recommend this GPU.

Also… RGB! (With aura compatibility).

If my word is not enough you can also check out more reviews via the Newegg page (which includes the price): 
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126249&Description=RTX%202080&cm_re=RTX_2080-_-14-126-249-_-Product

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.

Works Cited:

“Asus ROG STRIX.” RTX 2080, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126249&Description=RTX%2B2080&cm_re=RTX_2080-_-14-126-249-_-Product.

Smith, Ryan. “NVIDIA Announces the GeForce RTX 20 Series: RTX 2080 Ti & 2080 on Sept. 20th, RTX 2070 in October.” RSS, AnandTech, 20 Aug. 2018, www.anandtech.com/show/13249/nvidia-announces-geforce-rtx-20-series-rtx-2080-ti-2080-2070.

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When Elegance Meets Performance. (A review on the Corsair Dominator Platinum)

Memory Reviews
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If you have a top of the line PC nothing can put the cherry on top like some good sticks of RAM. Even though it is not thought of as the biggest price point in any build you definitely do not want to sell yourself short in the RAM department. Corsair has been on top of its game lately by making some of the highest quality of RAM on the market for your special rig.

The 32 GB total in 4 Sticks. 

Right out of the gate you can probably assume that this is not something you want to put in Suzy’s computer at the office. This is formally built for the best of the best rigs and should be treated as the such. With a hefty proce tag of over $500 you get what you pay for out of each stick of RAM. This is proven by the specs

Check them listed out here below:

Generation: 4th 
Speed: 3333 Mhz (PC4 26600)
Memory Size: 32 GB (4 x 8)
Cas Latency: 16
Channel Support: Quad
Voltage: 1.35V
Access Time: 4.8 NS 
ECC: Non-ECC

To check out more specifications here is a link to corsairs website https://www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Memory/DOMINATOR%C2%AE-PLATINUM-32GB-%284-x-8GB%29-DDR4-DRAM-3333MHz-C16-Memory-Kit/p/CMD32GX4M4B3333C16

Oh and not to mention…. It comes with its own RGB fan mount to keep your RAM looking stylish and fast

What the Ram + Heat-sink looks like on a motherboard

My word and specs not enough?

Check out some reviews (Via Newegg)


“Dominator is the only memory I EVER choose for my computers. The best out there.”
~Steven P.

“Building my own gaming/utility PC. I wanted the best and this was selected as one of the best options according to several reviews.”
~Andrew M.

If you would like to read up on more reviews from Newegg check out the following link: https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820236168

In conclusion this is RAM I would endorse. It is fit for most use cases and if you have the kind of money to blow on this kind of RAM most of the times it will serve you and your rig wonders.

Note: This was apart of a classroom project

Works Cited:

“Dominator Platnium.” Corsair 32 GB, Insider | Newegg Newegg Insider, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAG7R7DW9500&Description=corsair%2Bdominator%2Bplatinum&cm_re=corsair_dominator_platinum-_-20-233-973-_-Product.

“RETAILERS.” Corsair, www.corsair.com/us/en/Categories/Products/Memory/DOMINATOR%C2%AE-PLATINUM-32GB-%284-x-8GB%29-DDR4-DRAM-3333MHz-C16-Memory-Kit/p/CMD32GX4M4B3333C16.

Soderstrom, Thomas. “Corsair Dominator Platinum Special Edition 4x8GB DDR4-3333 Review: Speed & Polish.” Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Hardware, 15 June 2018, www.tomshardware.com/reviews/corsair-dominator-platinum-ddr4-3466-memory,5583.html.



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An insight on the I7-5820k

CPU reviews
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Weather you build your PC(s) or buy one pre-built no one can argue the importance of ones CPU. Having a bottleneck anywhere in your PC is never a good thing, but especially when it could come from the brains of the whole operation. 

When choosing a CPU for your rig one of the most important things to do before you decide on anything in particular is to make sure you appropriate your funds correctly according to your budget. If your budget for the entire rig is $500 you will not want to spend $300 on a CPU. This will cause you to cheap out on other parts of the PC and most likely cause a bottleneck somewhere within the rig.

  • Box for the I7-5820k


Luckily with the I7-5820k you do not have to worry about bottlenecks being an issue. Rated on PassMark as the best value CPU you can bet that you will see every ounce of performance for every dollar given out. 

With the confidence form the Haswell-E series, and the power from the I7 line it is easy to see why this packs the most bang for your buck.

But it would be easier just to show you why. Take a Look:

Specifications

Socket Type: LGA-2011 (V3)

Number of Cores 6

Number of Threads 12

Processor Base Frequency 3.30 GHz

Max Turbo Frequency 3.60 GHz

Cache 15 MB (L3) 6 x 256 Kb (L2)

TDP 140 W

With many games only utilizing 4 cores this is perfect for a multi-purpose system. With the available cores needed to run most modern games at full potential plus a few left over you can always count on this to deliver for most common use cases. With the addition of Hyper-threading you have a lot of head-space to work with and from my experience it is better to have more then not enough.

Another thing you will notice is the abundance of the Cache on the processor itself. For a total of around 16 MB of Cache this gives you all the computing power for most needs. Especially gaming. 

Where Cache is stored on the CPU chip: L3 is shared cache between all cores, L2 is located just off the CPU core, while L1 Cache is on the CPU core it’self 

Not a believer just yet? Don’t worry, take a look at some of the best reviews:



“Hex core, super efficient architecture, overclocks well, relatively affordable, good temperature…”

Via Anonymous user on Newegg


“The most affordable Haswell-E processor available at the time, and still runs strong.”

Via TechSpot

If interested in buying this product I will leave a link where you can find it for the best price.

Which you can find here >  https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117402&recaptcha=pass

For a moderate price you are gaining durability, performance and value. 3 things that don’t typically find themselves with one another.

Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.

“Intel I7-5820k.” Specifications, Insider | Newegg Newegg Insider, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117402&recaptcha=pass.

“Intel® Core™ i7-5820K Processor (15M Cache, up to 3.60 GHz) Product Specifications.” Intel® ARK (Product Specs), ark.intel.com/products/82932/Intel-Core-i7-5820K-Processor-15M-Cache-up-to-3-60-GHz-.

Walton, Steven. “6-Core/12-Thread Core i7 for $200, i7-5820K Revisited.” TechSpot, TechSpot, 12 Jan. 2018, www.techspot.com/review/1558-core-i7-5820k-test-in-2018/.

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Review of the MSI X99A GODlike Gaming motherboard.

Motherboard reviews, NT IT Reviews

<![CDATA[Many believe in the high quality gaming market, but few can actually afford to build such a rig to meet the demands of some mainstream triple A title games now-a-days. Due to hefty costs it is no wonder why some motherboards are out of reach to the average consumer. But… Lets just say if you need a motherboard with these specs it is safe to say that you are not just an average consumer.  This will leave even the hardest of tech enthusiasts drooling out their mouth when they take a glance at this product.
I present you with the MSI Gaming X99A GODlike gaming motherboard.

This motherboard is the best of the best with specs that can not be found almost anywhere else on a E-ATX board.  Lets take a look at these specs:

  • Chipset: X99
  • USB Ports: 6x 3.1 (1x Gen 2 1x type-C, 4x Gen 1), 2x 2.0
  • Audio Jacks: 5x analog, 1x 6.3 mm, 1x S/PDIF out
  • Sata Connectors: 10x 6Gb/s (Shares 1x SATA-E, 1x M.2)
  • Compatible CPU’s: Core I7’s for the LGA 2011 v3 socket (Not backwards compatible)
  • Memory: 8x 288 pin dims. (DDR4, Quad Channel)
  • Memory Speeds: (*=OC) 3400*/3333*/3110*/3000*/2800*/2750*/2666*/2600*/2400*/2200*/2133
  • Expansion Slots: 5x PCIe X16
  • Expansions Slot technologies: Supports 4-way AMD crossfire along with 4-way Nvidia SLI (With a CPU with 40 PCIe lanes). Also supports 3-way Nvidia SLI (With a CPU with 28 PCIe lanes)
  • Wi-Fi: Killer Wireless 1535
  • Lan: Killer E2400 Gigabit
  • Bluetooth: v4.1

This motherboard definitely does not disappoint on the spec sheet, and with a–wait for it– monstrous $999 price tag attached to it (Via Newegg) one would hope it didn’t.
What comes in the box is not disappointing either.

With premium packaging the box withholds the following:

  • Installation CD
  • 8GB installation USB drive
  • Instruction manual
  • Quick start user guide
  • Padded I/O back-plate shield
  • 10 SATA cables Including five with angled heads
  • Four flexible SLI bridges
  • M.2 to U.2 adapter card
  • Six voltage check extension leads
  • 3.5mm to 6.3mm headphone jack adapter
  • Two WiFi antennas with external magnetic mounts

After a look at this, one could draw the conclusion that the box is as loaded as the specs are.
But what you are really interested in, is the performance. Will it be future proof? Is it reliable? Etc. Well since my word is not enough I will present a customer review (via Newegg).
“I don’t know where to begin. I had this motherboard up and running my Core i7 5960x @ 4.7Ghz in an hour w/ a dual custom water loop. Ran into ZERO problems. Everything fit perfectly and booted up like lightning! I updated the BIOS to the newest version with ease.” ~Vincent D.
He went on to say:
“Best motherboard I have ever used. I was wary about the price at first but all worries went away when I finished my build and fired this monster up for the first time. A Happy MSI and Newegg Customer!”                                                                                                                                                   ~Vincent D.
Among many other reviews on Newegg I find the same general Pros and Cons amongst all of them. The good parts of the motherboard review is quite obvious, with great specs and an overall good quality of materials used, it is no surprise that this is one of (if not) the best motherboard on the market for gamer’s right now.
The only gripe that is negative that persists throughout the most reviews is that you’re beholden to the red aluminum on the motherboard, even with the glowing bright multi-colored LED’s that come with it. The red aesthetic may not be for you or your rig, so keep that in mind if you plan to buy this board.
In conclusion this motherboard will suit almost anyone’s needs for any given use-case. With that being said, assuming you can throw around $1k at your rig this will be future proof for an estimate of 4-5 years, and will come with reliability and class.
If you wish to read up on more reviews or even buy this product I’ll leave the following links:
Buy on Newegg / read other reviews.
Tom’s Hardware overview
Note:  This review is part of a classroom project.
“MSI Gaming X99A GODlike Gaming LGA 2011-v3 Intel X99 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.1 Extended ATX Intel Motherboard.” MSI Gaming X99A GODlike , 2018, www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIAGAH8C24815.
Linden, Eric Vander. “MSI X99A Godlike Gaming ATX Motherboard Review.” Tom’s Hardware, Tom’s Hardware, 25 May 2016, www.tomshardware.com/reviews/msi-x99a-godlike-gaming-intel-lga-2011-v3-atx-motherboard,4570.html.
“Intel® X99 Express Motherboard X99A GODLIKE GAMING.” Overview for GeForce GTX 1080 GAMING X 8G | Graphics Card – The World Leader in Display Performance | MSI USA, us.msi.com/Motherboard/X99A-GODLIKE-GAMING.html.
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